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Edwards should start v Aston Villa

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OPINION

James Shan should be bold and unleash 21-year-old academy product Kyle Edwards when West Brom take on Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on Tuesday night.

Edwards only made 11 first team appearances in all competitions for Albion this season and has not featured at all since the 3-2 defeat to Bristol City on April 9.

However with West Brom’s backs up against the wall for second leg of their play-off semi-final against Aston Villa this week, it would be a wise decision by Shan to start the impressive England Under-20 international.

West Brom will be without Dwight Gayle due to suspension and that means that someone needs to come into the attack.

Jacob Murphy has been a constant letdown since joining the Baggies on loan from Newcastle in January and Jefferson Montero is better utilised as an impact sub rather than a starter.

Edwards has bags of talent, knows where the back of the net is and could provide the spark that West Brom need to overturn a one-goal deficit in the semi-final after losing the first leg 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday.

Shan should opt to start Jay Rodriguez as the centre-forward with Matt Phillips and young Edwards either side of him in a three-pronged attack.

Phillips’ pace and goal threat combined with Rodriguez’s inter-play and Edwards’ unknown quantity should be enough to rattle an Aston Villa defence that has been an absolute mess at times this season.

If Edwards is the difference on Tuesday night then he will be a new Hawthorns hero for the Baggies faithful to sing about on their way to Wembley.

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